Wagner's Taylor Sarcone is in her fourth year as the Falcons' ace.Robert Cole

Four years. That’s how many consecutive times the Susan Wagner softball team made the final four.

Until 2011.

The Falcons fell in a wild quarterfinal game to Francis Lewis last year, snapping their semifinals streak. That loss does not sit well with the returning players.

“Some people make it like it was a down year for us,” Wagner coach Marco Altieri said. “I like the fact that the girls want to get back. They were angry that we weren’t [in the semifinals].”

Altieri isn’t making any proclamations. He never does. A good portion of last year’s nucleus, including ace pitcher Taylor Sarcone, returns. But the Falcons aren’t worried about the near future. They have grander designs.

“We’re not gonna be focusing on April,” Altieri said. “We’re gonna be focused on the playoffs and making a deep run in the playoffs.”

Wagner might be better equipped to do just that this year. In her first three years in the circle for the Falcons, Sarcone has been the primary – and most times only – pitcher. She has been the workhorse, old reliable, the team’s rock. Now, she’ll get a breather now and again from Dayna Williams, the shortstop and a middle of the order hitter. Sarcone will play short when Williams is throwing.

Sarcone will have the added responsibility of being the team’s leader. Danielle Locke, who is now playing at Western Connecticut, was the charismatic captain last year and the player who all the other girls followed.

“Taylor has really embraced the leadership role,” Altieri said. “She’s a different leader than Locke was, but I really like that she’s become a really good leader.”

Taking over for Locke in center field and the leadoff spot in the order will be Kristine Ciurcina, who was The Post’s All-Staten Island Player of the Year as a setter for Altieri’s girls volleyball team back in the fall.

“She knows we’re not replacing Locke,” Altieri said. “Ciurcina is very fast. She has a very strong glove. All we ask her to do is make the routine plays look routine.”

Freshman Danielle Drucker will slide into the catcher spot left by Ciurcina, Jennifer Greenberg is back at first base, Hallie Siegel moves from third to second and Notre Dame Academy transfer Jamie San Filippo takes over third base duties. All four of those girls and Sarcone could see time in the middle of the order.

Juliana Rossetti in left and Jeri Gennaro in right will be in the outfield with Ciurcina.

“I don’t think we’ll be that much different than last year,” Altieri said. “I think if we get on base, it’s gonna cause problems for some teams, because we have a lot of speed.”

Petrides has been a nice story the last two years, going to the quarterfinals in 2010 and finishing fourth in loaded Staten Island with its first winning record (10-7) in 2011. The Panthers are done being the little team that could, though, according to coach Kim Caccese.

“We want to try to give teams a run for their money,” she said. “We’ve been young the last couple years. We can’t use that excuse anymore. I think they’re up for the challenge. they want to be more than competitive. They want to beat these big teams, the teams with the names. They want to make a name for themselves.”

That will start with third-year ace pitcher Jackie DiBello, who has added velocity, Caccese said. Corrie Reno returns at third base and Celina Sclafani’s leadership in center field will be paramount. Christina Pecora will be behind the plate, Kaitlyn Riley at first base, Melanie Palmeri at second and Jamilynn McGowan at short. The outfield around Sclafani will have Amanda Collins in left and Kara Guezze, coming off two knee surgeries, in right.

Defense, Caccese said, will be a huge strength. As will pitching with DiBello. If Petrides hits, it could be in for a big year.

“They’re in the mindset that they want to improve from last year, definitely,” Caccese said.

McKee/Staten Island Tech could certainly do that, too. The Seagulls, who went 12-5 last year, return sophomore ace Blayse Halvorsen, who was also one of their best hitters. Infielder Arianna Kee is back and so is Amanda Mondello, who will replace Sophia Palumbo at catcher.

What’s making coach Jess Ragucci so excited, though, is the addition of two freshmen travel ball players. Demetria Thaten will start right away at short, pushing Kee to third, and Christina Rubin will be in center field. Those two, Kee and Halvorsen will make up the middle of her order.

“It’s gonna be a good little season,” Ragucci said. … “Do the little things right – that’s my goal. Just get the job done. Then we’ll be fine. We’ll be able to piece together runs. It’s just a matter of making teams earn their runs.”

Port Richmond graduates veteran windmiller Caitlin Shields, but Paige Cintron, Sylvia Sosa and Gabrielle Contreras – all contributors in 2011 – will return. Pitchers Sara Kader and Adriana Santora are back for New Dorp. Curtis and CSI/McCown round out the division.